01/25/2012

an evening with temple grandin

arriving at archi's acres organic farm in valley center, california is a heart-opening event before you even inhale your first spicy breeze of live basil. after winding up miles of road, lush with avocado groves, the farm announces you've arrived with a tunnel cypress that holds your little car like a hug.

hugs were on of my mind when i pulled up on a sunny-cold december afternoon, hatchback erupting with sacks of winter squash from sage mountain farm and gluten free chocolate cakes neatly wrapped in foil. karen archipley, co-owner of archi's acres and veteran's sustainable agriculture training with her husband, colin archipley, greeted me with a hug at her doorstep. with the help of farm students and neighbors, the archipley's living room was transformed into a sprawling dining area for a farm-to-table dinner with temple grandin as the guest of honor.

i will not soon forget the textures of that evening--karen's gingery, garlicky salad, made from a bin of just-picked kale and swiss chard, each leaf delicate, though sturdy and verdant. or temple grandin entering the kitchen, full of power and humility, white neckerchief and pins shining against her vest. the way candlelight got fuller as night came on and voices louder and warmer. i'll remember the resistance to the spoon just at the top of a pear and apple crumble, giving way to soft fruit.

each component of the meal drew from local farms and ranches, including homegrown meats' standout grass fed flank steak, soaked in a dark coffee marinade and paired with forager mike's raw superfood hot sauce. i'll include my recipe in this post--the coffee holds up so well to the assertive flavors of quality grass fed meat. and now mike's killer hot sauce, Dang!!!, can be found at whole foods or ordered online.

when a community of forward-thinking farmers and ranchers comes together to eat, there is hope at the table. plus, it's hard not to have hope when in temple grandin's presence. she's proven the point that when we strive to be and humane and give dignity, we also achieve maximum efficiency and resourcefulness. her life teaches us that our perceived obstacles are actually doorways when we proceed with courage.

it is easier to have courage when someone like temple models it for you. it is easier, too, when you step foot on the grounds of archi's acres, knowing that there lives are being changed all the while mouths are being fed.

i remain convinced that when we put our hearts into the matter of how we feed ourselves, we cannot help but courageously turn toward the most compassionate path. as if we needed any more convincing--sound found is also the most delicious.

notes, acknowledgements & a recipe

* learn about and support archi's acres and their revolutionary veteran's sustainable agriculture training on the web here

* a special thanks to archi's acres, homegrown meats, sage mountain farm, stan smith grass fed beef, raquel pena, and dang!!! hot sauce for their contributions to this dinner and to all the students, farmers, neighbors and friends who helped out. also, with deepest thanks to karen and colin archipley for welcoming me onto their farm and into their home and yvonne espinosa for making all of this (and so much more) possible.

* finally, temple grandin, for your steadfastness, for generously taking the time to speak to all of us about the future of raising livestock, for never failing to inspire and encourage, thank you.

Comments

an evening with temple grandin

arriving at archi's acres organic farm in valley center, california is a heart-opening event before you even inhale your first spicy breeze of live basil. after winding up miles of road, lush with avocado groves, the farm announces you've arrived with a tunnel cypress that holds your little car like a hug.

hugs were on of my mind when i pulled up on a sunny-cold december afternoon, hatchback erupting with sacks of winter squash from sage mountain farm and gluten free chocolate cakes neatly wrapped in foil. karen archipley, co-owner of archi's acres and veteran's sustainable agriculture training with her husband, colin archipley, greeted me with a hug at her doorstep. with the help of farm students and neighbors, the archipley's living room was transformed into a sprawling dining area for a farm-to-table dinner with temple grandin as the guest of honor.

i will not soon forget the textures of that evening--karen's gingery, garlicky salad, made from a bin of just-picked kale and swiss chard, each leaf delicate, though sturdy and verdant. or temple grandin entering the kitchen, full of power and humility, white neckerchief and pins shining against her vest. the way candlelight got fuller as night came on and voices louder and warmer. i'll remember the resistance to the spoon just at the top of a pear and apple crumble, giving way to soft fruit.

each component of the meal drew from local farms and ranches, including homegrown meats' standout grass fed flank steak, soaked in a dark coffee marinade and paired with forager mike's raw superfood hot sauce. i'll include my recipe in this post--the coffee holds up so well to the assertive flavors of quality grass fed meat. and now mike's killer hot sauce, Dang!!!, can be found at whole foods or ordered online.

when a community of forward-thinking farmers and ranchers comes together to eat, there is hope at the table. plus, it's hard not to have hope when in temple grandin's presence. she's proven the point that when we strive to be and humane and give dignity, we also achieve maximum efficiency and resourcefulness. her life teaches us that our perceived obstacles are actually doorways when we proceed with courage.

it is easier to have courage when someone like temple models it for you. it is easier, too, when you step foot on the grounds of archi's acres, knowing that there lives are being changed all the while mouths are being fed.

i remain convinced that when we put our hearts into the matter of how we feed ourselves, we cannot help but courageously turn toward the most compassionate path. as if we needed any more convincing--sound found is also the most delicious.

notes, acknowledgements & a recipe

* learn about and support archi's acres and their revolutionary veteran's sustainable agriculture training on the web here

* a special thanks to archi's acres, homegrown meats, sage mountain farm, stan smith grass fed beef, raquel pena, and dang!!! hot sauce for their contributions to this dinner and to all the students, farmers, neighbors and friends who helped out. also, with deepest thanks to karen and colin archipley for welcoming me onto their farm and into their home and yvonne espinosa for making all of this (and so much more) possible.

* finally, temple grandin, for your steadfastness, for generously taking the time to speak to all of us about the future of raising livestock, for never failing to inspire and encourage, thank you.